|
January 2007 - Entering 2007, Oxford Airport (UK) foresees an exciting year ahead with the plans to construct a new runway and introduce for the first time an instrument landing system and associated enhanced approach lighting. The final figures for 2006 show an overall increase of business and commercial traffic at Oxford by 8% following on from a 25% increase in 2005. Jet visits increased by 15% and turboprops by 32.7%. In June, typically the peak month for business aviation, Oxford saw a 75% increase in business aircraft visits. Where in previous years there has been a steady decline in activity from the summer towards December, 2006 saw a peak of business aircraft movements in December.
Pilot training by Oxford Aviation Training continued to decline by 32% on the previous year's activity with the school focusing more flying activity at its sister operation in Arizona and with the increased use of ground based simulators. This has reduced overall activity at Oxford by just under 10,000 movements a year, further reducing noise and freeing up the local airspace.
With the advent of enhanced infrastructure and services, plus the availability of new hangars for larger business jet types, 2007 should see further business aviation activity at Oxford. Some of the first Very Light Jets (VLJs) in Europe, including the new Eclipse business jets, are due to be based at Oxford in the summer, introducing the dawn of a new age in air taxi operations in the UK increasing productivity and efficiency in the air.
For further information on Oxford Airport and/or high resolution images contact:
Oxford Airport
James Dillon-Godfray, Head of Development & Marketing
Tel: 01865 290 710, Fax: 01865 290 605
E-mail: jdg@oxfordairport.co.uk
|
